Clematis variety named `EVIsix`

ABSTRACT

A new compact growing Clematis cultivar which produces violet blue flowers with contrasting yellow anthers over a long flowering season from summer through fall. The cultivar is compact and upright in growth, of a non-clinging character with distinct bronzed-green foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for ornamental use in outdoor settings in a variety of climatic conditions. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematiswhich originated as a seedling of a crossing of Daniel Deronda and anunnamed parent in 1988 at Domarie Vineyards. The two parents werecrossed and the resulting seed was planted in a controlled environment.The new variety is named `EVIsix`.

The objective of the hybridization of this Clematis variety forcommercial glasshouse and nursery culture was to create a new anddistinct variety with:

1. Attractive and unusual flowers and tepals;

2. Violet blue tepals;

3. Yellow anthers and violet blue filaments;

4. Attractive foliage;

5. Long flowering season;

6. Compact, non-clinging growth.

These qualities required improvement in Clematis varieties that were incommercial cultivation and the objectives have been substantiallyachieved in the new variety, as evidenced by the unique combination ofcharacteristics that are present in `EVIsix` which distinguish it fromall other varieties of which we are aware.

The seed from the hybridization was germinated and evaluations wereconducted on the resulting Clematis plant in a controlled environment.

`EVIsix` was selected by Raymond J. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in theirClematis development program in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St.Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in 1988.

Asexual reproduction of `EVIsix` by cuttings was first done by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St.Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in 1988. Thisinitial and subsequent propagations have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of `EVIsix` are true to type and are transmitted fromone generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, tepals and leaves of the new variety, withdifferent tepals shown in various stages of maturity. The tepal form,tepal counts, tepal colors, tepal buds, tepal parts, pedicels and thecultivar's foliage are depicted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of `EVIsix`, as observed in itsgrowth throughout the flowering period in glasshouses at DomarieVineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, UnitedKingdom. Certain phenotypical characteristics of the variety may varyunder different environmental, cultural, agronomic, seasonal, andclimatic conditions. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 1995.

For a comparison, the nearest existing CLematis variety is x.Eriostemon. Chart 1 details several physical characteristics of theapplicant and the comparision varieties.

                  Chart 1    ______________________________________                 `EVIsix`   `Eriostemon`    ______________________________________    Plant Height   <1 meter     1-3 meters    Shoot          strong       medium    Anthocyanin    Flowering      summer/fall  summer fall    Period    Anther Color   Yellow       Cream/white    Tepal Color    RHS 90 B     Blue    (upper)        Violet Blue    Plant Habit    Climbing/    Climbing/                   non-clinging non-clinging    ______________________________________

Parents: Daniel Deronda x Unknown seedling.

Classification:

Botanical.--Clematis l.

Commercial.--Late flowered form.

Flower and Flower Bud

Blooming habit: Summer and Fall.

Flower bud:

Size.--20-30 mm in length.

Bud form.--Ovoid.

Bud color.--Purple bud at 1/4 opening.

Sepals.--None.

Peduncle.--Surface: Smooth. Length: 130-180 mm average length. Color:Dark red. Orientation: Horizontal.

Receptacle.--Size: Small. Color: Red-green.

Borne.--In clusters and singly. Shape: Compound cymes.

Flower bloom:

Size.--Small, 80 mm. on average.

Form.--Upon opening, campanulate with tepals reflexing.

Color.--Upon opening, the upper surface is R.H.S. 90 B of the VioletBlue Color Group. Upon opening, the reverse side is R.H.S. 90 C of theViolet Blue Color Group. After opening, the upper surface is R.H.S. 90 Bthe Violet Blue Color Group. After opening, the reverse surface isR.H.S. 90 B of the Violet Blue Color Group. The base of the tepals isR.H.S. 90 A of the Blue Group. The general tonality from a distance isPurple.

Variations.--Uniform.

Fragrance.--None.

Lasting quality on plant and as a cut flower.--Long lasting.

Tepals:

Petalage.--Single. Average range: 4-6.

Shape.-Individual tepal shape is elliptic.

Cross section.--Reflexed.

Undulation of margin.--Moderately undulated.

Tepal apex.--Narrowly acute.

Recurvature of tip.--Recurved.

Persistence.--Drop off cleanly.

Arrangement.--Tepals are arranged regularly.

Reproductive organs:

Pollen.--Color: Cream. Abundance: Little.

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Color: Yellow. Arrangment: Regular.

Filaments.--Color: Purple.

Stigmas.--Central, hidden until anthers open out. Feathery inappearance.

Plant

Plant form: Upright.

Plant growth: Average vigor.

Height: Season's growth attains 0.75-1 meter.

Hardiness: Trials to date show the variety hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.

Stems:

Color.--Young wood: Green. Older wood: Brown.

Internodes.--Cylindrical. Length 100 mm.

Petioles.--Incidence: Few. Size: Average length: 20 mm. Color: Dark Red.Clasping: None.

Bark:

Young wood.--Hairy.

Older wood.--Smooth.

Plant foliage: Deciduous. Simple.

Leaf size.--Medium. 90 mm in length and 30 mm in width.

Abundance.--Limited.

Color.--Top: Dark green. R.H.S. 137 A of the Green Color Group. Bottom:Medium green. R.H.S. 137 C of the Green Color Group. New growth: Lightgreen, occasional bronze coloration. Older growth: Dark green. R.H.S.137 A of the Green Color Group.

Plant leaves and leaflets:

Stipules.--Absent.

Petiole.--Length: 20 mm. Underneath: Without prickles.

Leaf edge.--Terminal leaflet margin is entire.

Shape.--Base of leaflet: Rounded. Apex of leaflet: Acute.

Texture.--Thick. Upper side: Rough. Lower side: Ribbed.

Surface.--Matte Finish.

Disease resistance: Subject to any disease that normally attacks thespecies, however the variety is more tolerant to Clematis Wilt than someClematis.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis plant,substantially as herein shown and detailed, as a distinct and novelclematis cultivar due to its abundant violet-blue flowers withcontrasting yellow anthers, bronzed green foliage and compact habit makethis a unique cultivar suitable for use in a variety of garden